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A Legacy of Love and Courage
Terri Schindler-Shiavo
December 3, 1963-March 31, 2005
Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation
This is a memorial of a very special girl named Teresa Marie Schindler, known to the world as Terri. She died on March 30, 2005 after being off a feeding tube for almost 2 weeks. There is no way I can do a memorial without reflecting on how this beautiful woman died.
You will see a slight refresher of her 15 year struggle, but for the most part I will let the link below explain all those details. The web site can show just what this woman named Terri Schindler-Schiavo endured throughout her 15 year fight to survive. I urge everyone to visit the link which also offers many other links to information.Mostly this memorial is my own contribution to keep her memory alive. I will reflect on what this experience has done for me.I will give basic information taken from the link below about her beginning. I will give a brief description of her plight and offer some of the main facts to dispel many of the false statements made by Michael Schiavo and his supporters. I will add some pictures of her so you may see what this beautiful woman looked like before and after her ordeal. This way you can see her fighting spirit and love still in her when she
was lying in her bed.
Periodically, I will update this page as more information and other contributions are given to me. This is simply my way of keeping Terri in our memories and to show everyone what courage and determination can do. She was never supposed to survive as long as she did, but she kept fighting and beating the odds. God gave her the strength to keep going, and she did just that. Go to the following link to get more facts and links to information about this touching story of courage.
This is something we all should be concerned with since at any time this could happen to us. Visit the foundation set up in her name for more information, Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.
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Basic Facts About Terri
Theresa Marie Schindler was born in Pennsylvania on December 3, 1963 to Mary and Robert Schindler.
Charming, but decidedly bashful, Terri quickly developed a nurturing personality.
Her parents tell stories of Terri's devotion to family pets and to animals of every sort. Her sister and brother label Terri a lover of music - especially piano.
She even wrote to musician John Denver to request he play at her wedding. Terri had a knack for art and her sketches are something of a treasure to her family.
Terri came to Florida in the early 1980s and worked in an administrative capacity for a local insurance agency. She attended Catholic Mass with her sister and kept a close relationship with her immediate family.
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Picture of Terri before Her Illness
Theresa Marie Shindler, Born December 3, 1963.
Terri had a Happy zest for life and loved animals, music, art, and her family.
Terri with her Dad on her wedding day.
All the pictures on this page were provided from Terri Theresa Schindler Memory. These pictures are only used to show support and love for Terri and her family. More pictures are available at the Terri's Memorial Photo album. You may also see some videos of Terri by visitng, Videos of Terri.
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Major Life Changes and Her 15 Year Struggle
* In 1990, Terri Schindler-Schiavo collapsed in the home she shared with her husband, Michael Schiavo. The cause of her collapse is unknown to this day. Please read the following information while considering this collapse. In the beginning...This is a young woman who was mysteriously and grievously injured on February 25, 1990, while alone with her husband (himself a trained EMT who says he administered "mouth-to-mouth", although she was found by paramedics, summonsed by her brother, the only person Michael bothered to call, face DOWN in the hall while hubby-Michael sat on the couch in another room). The paramedics were sufficiently suspicious to have two police officers file a report.
* Terri fell into a coma but awakened from her comatose state weeks later. She was left in what medical professionals call a "locked in state" with limited abilities to communicate or move.
* During the first months that followed Terri's mysterious collapse, she made progress. Medical practitioners noted her efforts to speak and her responsiveness.
* Terri remained disabled. Though she was responsive to stimuli, interacted with her environment and her loved ones and was capable of communicating in limited ways, she was a disabled and vulnerable adult - requiring protection, therapy and the route to recovery.* Terri had not had meaningful therapy since 1991, but many credible physicians say she could have benefited from it.
* Terri's husband/guardian spoke for her. She couldn't divorce him without his permission.
* Terri never signed any directive or living will and there is no evidence that she foresaw her present situation.
* Terri's husband had started another family and probably has gone on with his life. Terri's family wants to provide her therapy and a safe home.* Terri only received food and fluids via a simple tube. No other life support.
* Dehydration and starvation cause horrific effects and are anything but peaceful. Read more at the website below.* On Friday, March 18, 2005, at approximately 1:45 p.m. (EST), Terri's feeding tube was disconnected for the third time since she had become disabled.* On Thursday, March 31, 2005 Terri died while her husband was by her side?..Her parents were denied access to Terri by her husband Michael.
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What This All Means to Me
I have to admit that in the very beginning I really was not much of a supporter. I figured she was just someone who was lying in a hospital bed on life support. Dead in mind, just waiting for the body to follow. Like everything else I do, I have to do research and look at all angles before I jump on board with my support. After visiting the sites dedicated to her fight for life, and doing some outside research on my own, it became clear to me that Terri was a victim of a cruel husband who just wanted his wife out of the way. She was someone trying to fight for her life against all odds.
It just amazes me that Michael Shiavo started to fight Terri's treatment after the money started rolling in. He never allowed for much in the way of treatment or therapy. Who Knows how much she would have recovered if she would have gotten good treatment and therapy all through her recovery.
Well she is gone now and Michael is probably happy about that, but the joke is on him because God has exalted her for all her pain and suffering. She fought a long hard fight and her courage will never be forgotten in my eyes as in the eyes of many others. No one with the fighting spirit she had wants to have their life over with. She proved to me she wanted to live. It took 2 weeks almost for her to die after the feeding tube was removed. She did this after a long 15 year fight for her life. Now what fool would think she was not trying to fight for her life? Who could ever believe she wanted her life to end?
This is a memorial and recognition of Terri's courage to survive. I know I keep mentioning her courage, but to me this is one of the many gifts she has left us with. Added to that is the fight which will continue in her honor. She may not have won the fight for herself, but maybe with her and God watching over us, we can change things for others like her. Maybe her courage will reach from beyond the grave and make us all able to change things and make people aware of the plight of the severely disabled. We must carry the torch in Terri's memory so all may know things must change.
I know that my life has changed since getting involved in this fight. I have Multiple Sclerosis, which is a neurological disease. I could very easily end up like Terri. I am taking steps to make sure now that my voice will be heard when, like Terri, I can no longer speak for myself. She tried to speak with her constant battle to survive and beat the odds, but still the judicial system and her husband were not listening to her. I want to make sure my wishes are very well known. Her parents should have been able to enjoy her, love her, and care for her needs instead of spending the time in court battling a malicious husband.
Terri taught me the power of faith, and the ability to trust in God. Her fight and beating the odds says a lot about the power of faith. She has left a legacy which will be around as long as people live to remember her. If ever there was a hero, Terri Schiavo is certainly it.
To me Terri was the victim of a legalized murder. Michael Schiavo was allowed to use the judicial system as the weapon to complete the act. Final justice will happen by God in Terri's case. At least she no longer has to suffer from his and his cohorts starvation tactics.
Terri will be missed. Her memory will live in the hearts of me and many others. We will not let this great woman die in vain.
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